The new set of laws have enraged demonstrators. They allow jail terms of up to five years for those who blockade public buildings and the arrest of protesters wearing masks or helmets.

Three hours after the text was sent, riot police pushed past makeshift barricades of charred vehicles in Kiev near the Parliament and were met by protesters wearing in ski masks and helmets, and carrying sticks.

At least two people died on the streets early this morning – the first fatalities in a two-month long protest that had been mostly peaceful until this week.

“The government tried to marginalise the protest, hoping that after 60 days in the cold people would become tired and leave, and only a different contingent would remain, only bums, but this did not work,” said Yuri Syrotyuk, a deputy head of the nationalist Svoboda party and a member of Parliament.

“The government then decided to provoke a conflict, so some radical element would respond,” he added. “They wanted a schism. They are following the Roman principle of divide and conquer. This is their plan, but it will not work.”

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Clashes in Ukraine Intensify

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A woman holds a statue of Jesus in front police officers as they block a street after clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An Orthodox priest tries to stop clash protesters the police in the center of Kiev on January 22, 2014. Ukrainian police on Wednesday stormed protesters' barricades in Kiev as violent clashes erupted and activists said that one person had been shot dead by the security forces. Total of two activists shot dead during clashing. The move by police increased tensions to a new peak after two months of protests over President Viktor Yanukovych's failure to sign a deal for closer ties with the EU. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)

A protester throws a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. The mass protests in Kiev, the capital, erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman)

A protester throws a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. The mass protests in Kiev, the capital, erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman)

Protesters stand on the barricade during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. The mass protests in Kiev, the capital, erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman)

A protester uses fireworks during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Protesters throw molotov cocktails during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

A wounded protester, foreground left, is assisted by a paramedic and fellow protester to go out during a clash with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

A Molotov cocktail thrown by protesters flies over police during their clash in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Protesters with shields stand in front of police officers as they block a street during clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Protesters stand hand in hand in front of riot police officers as they block a street after clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An Orthodox priest prays as he stands between pro-European Union activists and police lines during clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A woman speaks with police officers as they block a street after clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An Orthodox priest prays as he stands between pro-European Union activists and police lines during clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A woman holds a statue of Jesus in front police officers as they block a street after clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Protesters use fireworks during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Protesters duck behind a burned vehicle as they clash with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Protesters clash with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

A protester prepares to throw a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Two people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraineís two month-long political crisis. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Protesters clash with the police in the center of Kiev on January 22, 2014. Ukrainian police on Wednesday stormed protesters' barricades in Kiev as violent clashes erupted and activists said that one person had been shot dead by the security forces. Total of two activists shot dead during clashing. The move by police increased tensions to a new peak after two months of protests over President Viktor Yanukovych's failure to sign a deal for closer ties with the EU. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)